Purdue vs. Miami-Ohio

OXFORD, Ohio, October 23. THE Purdue women's swimming and diving team won its first dual meet of the season Friday evening by defeating Miami University 181.5-116.5 in Oxford, Ohio.

"This was a great way to start the dual-meet season," head coach John Klinge said. "I thought we really raced hard today. The team had a very business-like approach. From the start, we swam with more confidence than I saw last year."

Junior Allie Smith recorded Purdue's first NCAA provisional time of the season while winning the 100-yard backstroke. The Green Bay, Wis., native touched the wall in 55.14 seconds to eclipse the standard and pick up her first individual win of the season. Smith also led off the victorious 200 medley relay for the second time in as many meets this season. Smith teamed with Jessica Davis, Lisa Butler and Ariel Martin to better the field in 1:44.29.

Freshman Caitlin Hamilton opened her Purdue career with victories in the 500 and 1,000 freestyle. Hamilton touched the wall in 4:55.49 in the shorter race and in 10:02.52 in the longer distance to lead a Boilermaker sweep of the top-four places in each. Fellow freshman Courtney Tumbush took second in the 1,000 freestyle and fourth in the 500 freestyle, while sophomore Amy Gutwein placed third in the 500 freestyle and fourth in the 1,000 freestyle. Junior Jessica Skiba finished third in the 1,000 freestyle.

Martin, who was swimming in her first meet of the season, also won the 50 freestyle in 23.29 and the 100 freestyle in 51.19 while leading a Boilermaker sweep of the top-three places in each race. Freshman Lauren Nichols finished second in the 50 freestyle with her 23.30 time and was followed by Butler in third in 23.72. The two swimmers switched places in the 100 freestyle as Butler stopped the clock in 51.74 and Nichols finished in 51.79.

Sophomore Lauren Roth won the 200 freestyle for the second consecutive meet with a 1:51.46 clocking. Roth also placed second in the 500 freestyle after touching the wall in 4:59.04. She was followed in the 200 freestyle by senior Leah Henninger, who finished second in 1:53.05, and sophomore Kristen Gilson, who placed third with her 1:53.70 clocking. Freshman Lauren Gustafson completed the top four sweep after stopping the clock in 1:55.04.

Freshman Seraphina Van won the 200 butterfly in 2:04.62 to continue the unbeaten start to her collegiate career in individual events. The Cypress, Texas, native won the 200 IM at the Indiana Intercollegiates on Oct. 10 in her Purdue debut. Senior Christine Inman finished second in the 200 butterfly after touching the wall in 2:06.48.

Junior Erin Mertz also earned her second win in as many meets. The All-American transfer from Kansas won the 1-meter with her score of 294.14. She also finished third in the 3-meter after scoring 276.98. Sophomore Casey Matthews, who dove to honorable-mention All-America acclaim last season, scored 274.27 and finished third off the 1-meter. Junior Kara Cook put together a fourth-place, 262.12-point performance from the 3-meter.

Junior Katie Beck tied for the 100 butterfly victory by finishing the race in 57.00 and finished second in the 100 backstroke with a 57.27 clocking. Gilson picked up a win in the 200 backstroke when she completed the race in 2:01.75, finishing just ahead of Smith's runner-up 2:02.30 time, and also led the Boilermakers in the 200 IM with a third-place, 2:10.69 finish.

Freshman Emily McIlrath led Purdue in the 100 breaststroke with her second-place, 1:05.02 finish. She was followed by Davis in fourth in 1:06.13 and Jacobs in fifth in 1:06.53. Van led the Boilermakers in the 200 breaststroke as she finished third in 2:20.19. Freshman Megan Roach took fourth in 2:23.72.

The Boilermakers wrapped up the meet with a win in the 400 freestyle relay. Butler, Martin, Nichols and Henninger outraced the field and took the victory in 3:27.57.

Purdue improved to 20-8 all-time against Miami with the victory. The Boilermakers return to the pool Nov. 6 when they host Notre Dame. Action begins at 5:30 p.m. ET from inside the Boilermaker Aquatic Center.

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